As a group, cancer survivors (estimated to number 14.5 million in the United States in 2014) face greater economic burdens including medical expenditures and productivity losses. Survivors of cancer pay thousands of dollars in excess medical expenditures, and the extra costs vary by age and cancer site, according to a new American Cancer Society study.
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An article on the study, appearing online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, says targeted efforts could be important to reduce the economic burden of cancer, according to an ACS press release.
Researchers in the ACS Surveillance and Health Services Research program focused on 2008 to 2012 ACS Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to measure excess economic costs attributable to the three most prevalent cancers.
The researchers examined and calculated excess annual medical expenditures and productivity losses (defined as employment disability, missed work days, and days stayed in bed) for colorectal, female breast, and prostate cancer survivors in comparison to those without a cancer history.